Opioids and Fentanyl: An Everchanging Landscape

The current opioid epidemic is one of the most significant public health crises in our nation’s history. In 2023, more than 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose with a 109% increase amongst youth aged 10-19 years.
Mary Taylor Fullerton from San Mateo County Health, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will discuss the origins of the opioid epidemic, the use and misuse of opioids including fentanyl, and evidence-based harm reduction strategies in San Mateo County to prevent overdose deaths.
 
Mary Taylor Fullerton, LMFT, is Clinical Services Manager with San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Alcohol & Drug Division. She has been with SMC for over 16 years with a focus on Trauma-Informed care, system integration for co-occurring substance us and mental health treatment and helped create the Integrated Medication Assisted Treatment (IMAT) team embedded in the county emergency department serving those with harmful opioid and alcohol use.  Mary has also taught at the College of San Mateo in the Drug & Alcohol Studies department since 2011.